In a state that has raised talents like Elena Delle Donne, Chris Godwin, and Joe Flacco for international sports careers, Erik Mischel—starting goalie and captain of the lacrosse team at Delaware Military Academy (DMA)—is perhaps the youngest to reach the international stage. This August, the rising senior is heading to South Korea to compete at the 2025 World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship with Germany.
Born in Germany but raised in California and Delaware, Mischel proudly holds American, German, and Italian citizenship, a rarity he inherited through both parents’ international roots. Now, as he enters this new and exciting chapter of his career, Mischel celebrates his multicultural identity on a global scale while highlighting Delaware’s tight-knit lacrosse community. The First State undoubtedly shaped Mischel as a goalie—from his beginning days at Brandywine Springs to Wilmington’s Wings Lacrosse Club and Middletown’s Takeover Lacrosse training camps.
“ When I moved from California to Delaware, one of my friends played lacrosse, and he kind of brought me into that world at Brandywine Springs,” Michel says about his sports upbringing. “The Wings gave me my first real team experience, and I still remember my first win with them. Takeover Lacrosse really pushed me on a fundamental level. But at DMA, we’re a very tight-knit team. It’s helped me grow not just as a goalie but as a leader on the field.”
The Road to the World Lacrosse Championship
Mischel’s journey with Germany’s U20 National Team began with a desire to represent his heritage on an international stage. “I’ve always been really proud of my German background; I grew up speaking German with my family, so I looked up the head coach and general manager and just introduced myself via email,” Mischel recalls contacting general manager Andreas Papantonopoulos and head coach Pete DeSantis, advocating for himself fluently in English and German. “Being able to play for Germany feels like honoring where I come from while also showing what Delaware can do. I just wanted to see if there was even a chance, and it turned into this.”
“Being able to play for Germany feels like honoring where I come from while also showing what Delaware can do.”
—Erik Mischel
After a promising first call with DeSantis, Mischel followed up by submitting game footage, performance stats, and other background details, including training experience and language fluency.
Shortly after, he was invited to Germany’s spring training and scrimmage in Frankfurt during spring break, where the team tryout really began. “It was one of the hardest weeks of my life, physically and mentally, but I gave it everything I had,” he says. Mischel went into Frankfurt not knowing the other players. He was focused on being coachable and working really hard.
Making the Team
In the end, the hard work paid off with a moment Mischel will never forget: being officially selected as Germany’s U20 lacrosse goalie. “By the end of the week, I felt like I really belonged on that field. Coach DeSantis pulled me aside and said, ‘You’ve earned this.’ That moment still doesn’t feel real.”
Mischel will return to Germany this summer for training camps in Berlin and Frankfurt. From there, he’ll fly with the team to Jeju Island, South Korea, for the 2025 World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship. The event will be held at the Gongcheonpo Training Center from August 15-24. Twenty teams will compete in the 10th edition of the event. Mischel cites the United States, Canada, and Japan as top competitors.
“The goal is to make Delaware proud, make Germany proud, and give it everything I’ve got.”
—Erik Mischel
“Lacrosse isn’t super big in Germany, so a lot of people don’t even know there’s a national team. But the guys are really dedicated, and everyone’s working hard to put German lacrosse on the map.” Mischel adds as an anecdote before shifting back to his homegrown talent in Delaware. He expresses that being around players from all over the world, competing at that level, is a dream come true. “The goal is to make Delaware proud, make Germany proud, and give it everything I’ve got. When I told my school and teammates, they were super supportive. There’s a lot of talent in Delaware, and I hope this shows people that you can go global with it.”
Looking Ahead
After Mischel’s international foray, the athlete still has one final season at DMA ahead. “Right now, I’m focused on training, staying sharp, and finishing my senior year strong.” He’s also getting a head start on the college search process, keeping his interests and goals intertwined. “I’m looking into schools that have strong lacrosse programs–but also good academics. That balance is important to me.”
If all is well in Germany, Mischel would love to continue playing lacrosse internationally but also considers coaching as a perfect alternative. “I’ve learned a lot, and I’d love to give that back to younger players someday.”
From a California childhood to Delaware team captain–and now an international competitor for Germany–Erik Mischel’s journey is one of personal initiative, cross-cultural pride, and global ambition. Whether repping Germany internationally or Delaware locally, he’s proof that when talent meets action, one email can take you all the way.
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